Sinker package



1942- A. s. CHANDLER 2,305,514

SINKER PACKAGE Filed Junell, 1940 I I IINVENTOR:

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 SINKER PACKAGE Austin S. Chandler, Fitchburg, Mass., assignor of one-half to George H. Goff, Fitchburg, Mass.

Application June 11, 1940, Serial No. 339,971

5 Claims.

The invention relates to sinkers for use on sportsmens fishing lines; and has for an object to provide individual sinkers formed for ready and secure attachment to the line; and to form them in a novel package, of convenient shape, to lessen likelihood of loss and having utility as an advertising vehicle, and which may be readily carried in a small pocket of the garment of the user.

The use of small sinkers on a fishing line near the hook is essential in certain conditions to insure the bait to be placed at the proper depth to interest fish. The added weight required depends on the nature of the bait, line, and flow of water. More weight must be added in fast water to keep the bait from being lifted from the bottom. It has been customary to use split shot of proper size is pinched on the line, using pliers or the teeth to clinch the lead on the line. Once securely applied, removal of the shot is difficult should less weight be later required. These shot are customarily sold packaged loose in wooden bottles, and the caps often loosen and permit the shot to roll free in the pockets. When removing a single shot under the uncertain footing usual when fishing, one is likely to pour a number into the stream.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sinker of minimum bulk where weight may be readily selected and varied, and

which may be easily applied to the line with security, yet be readily removable, when desired. A package of sinkers is provided which holds them securely until used, the package being of convenient shape for carrying and minimizing likelihood of loss.

. Another object is to evolve anovel form of package embodying the advantages of compactness, convenient size and shape for carrying and for economical production. It is a special aim of the invention to present a novel form of unit containing a multiple of the sinkers and a cover therefor adapted to be made highly ornamental and adapted to the carrying of advertising so that the packages may be used for gratuitous distribution among fishermen with commensurate benefit in the return on goodwill thus established, and which will have the function of making the package conspicuous and readily located even though little of the sinker material remains. Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as well as in the methods used in its production, as will be under- Cal stood from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a preferred, Weedless manner of applying a sinker to the line, slightly enlarged.

Figure 2 shows a simple manner of attachment of sinker, slightly enlarged.

Figure 3 is an isometric perspective of a package of sinkers, one partly removed, actual size as heretofore produced.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section at the edge of a sinker element, showing its severance and partial attachment in the sheet.

Figure 5 is a cross section on line 55 of Figure 4. I

Figure 5a is a fragmentary perspective partly in section as in Figure 5, showing a modification of the manner of defining the separate strips.

Figure 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a cross section of a modified construction.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a further modification.

Figure 9 is an elevation of a different means of packaging the sinker elements.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the invention comprises essentially a thin sheet of lead or other non-elastic pliable sheet material l2. This is blanked in a rectangular form, and at the same time or subsequently die-cut to form a multiplicity of slits 24 by which parallel strips or sinker elements I9 are formed, separated at their mutually adjacent edges through the 'major part of their length but with Weak uncut joining parts or couplings 20 spaced from one end, leaving projecting separated free ends 2| of these sinker elements at one end of the sheet. At the opposite end, the slits partly separating the sinker elements stop short of the end of the sheet, leaving a transverse base l8 to which the ends of the strips I9 are integrally joined with or without a partial weakening of the connection thereat as discretion may dictate. This sheet unit is then made up into a packet of one or more such units, in'the present instance but one sheet being shown in the packet, in Figures 3 to 8, inclusive. The strips in the sheet are left with alternate ones displaced from the plane of the others, which occurs incident to the operation of the dies by which the slitting is effected.

The packet I0 comprises a cover H which may be formed of cardboard or the like, which en-' velops a sheet of sinker material [2. The cover H includes a back portion l3, a face or cover proper l4, and a fiap or retaining flap I adapted to receive the end l6 of the face l4 thereunder. The surfaces of the cover afford opportunity for printing of advertising, useful fishing facts, instructions, advice and the like. Cover II and sinker material [2 are secured together by the fastening I? which may conveniently be a clinched staple so located that the end edge of the cover i4 may be inserted a distance under the fiap E5, and the pocket so held closed. Access to the sinker material I2 is effected by manually disengaging the end 15 of the cover M from the retainer I5.

The sinker elements extend at right angles to the base portion is and longitudinally of the package. The dimensions of these individual strips are subject to discretion, depending on the weight of sinkers required. However, a convenient size has been found to be: Length, 1 width, thickness, ,4 This produces an element which wraps neatly about the average line, not adding unduly to its thickness nor greatly increasing its resistance to passage through the water.

In forming the strips !9 from the originally integral sheet material !2 a variety of scoring, cutting, shearing or otherwise weakening mechanical operations may be employed. However, it will be noted that the elements H are not completely severed as at 24, one from the other through their entire length but remain attached at a point 20, just inward of their free ends 2|. This results in a tidier package, the free ends not being able to become crossed or otherwise tangled, but remaining fiat in the package until purposely disengaged for use. This conformation is provided in the instant example by use of dies so shaped that alternate strips 22 are sheared downward relative to the remaining strips 23, except at the point 20 and in the base portion IS. The effect of this action is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6; the connecting material at 20 is somewhat weakened due to partial shear upon a large portion thereof, so that manual separation is facilitated. The end 2! is adapted to be grasped by the fingers and start the tearing of material 20 more readily than if the completely sheared line 24 were merely stopped short of this end of the material [2.

The base end 25 of the strip I9 is readily torn when the sinker is removed for use. However, it may be found desirable, and especially in case of thicker, heavier sinkers, to weaken this base as at 26, in Figure 8, by means of scoring, indenting or partial severance. are illustrated as being in the same plane, having been separated at 24 by a cutting operation.

The blocks of strips l9 may be assembled in 'a variety combination in the packet to suit the fishing conditions encountered. As shown in Figure 7, a sheet of thick, heavy sinkers may be bound with a sheet of light thin strips so that greater variety and delicacy of weight may be had. Additional sheets may be bound as desired.

A modified mode of forming and packaging sinker strips is shown in Figure 9. A continuous roll of wire or flat strip 21 is transversely weakened at suitable intervals as at 28, to define sinker elements 29 which may be detached as desired. Dimensions of elements 29 may be selected as desired.

The manner of use of this sinker is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. As in Figure 2, after detachment of a strip I9, it-may be wrapped about the line, forming a flat spiral helix thereabout. If

The strips is in Figure 8 1 the sinker and line be further twisted, after merely wrapping, the line will be very firmly gripped by the constricting effect of the helix. Since the sinker strip is made of lead, of very low elasticity and high deformability, this gripping will be maintained, and due to the inherent softness of lead there is no liability of cutting the line.

In Figure 1 a preferred method of application is shown, which is Weedless and has less likelihood of snagging or unwinding of the sinker upon obstructions. In this instance, one end of the sinker strip is laid upon the line extending away from the hook, and is wrapped thereabout with relatively little hitch or lead or may parallel the line. The wrapping is then returned in direction so as to wrap from the bight thus formed toward the end of the strip (which is also toward the hook) covering it and binding it down upon the line. The remainder of the sinker is wrapped upon the line, the successive turns being toward the hook. By further twisting the line and sinker strip together, the sinker may be more tightly constructed upon the line. It will be noted that this results in a sinker which presents no free end in the direction of pull, but rather a streamlined head, which is not likely to engage any obstruction. By untwisting or unwrapping, the sinker (however applied) may be removed in whole or in part, to adjust the weight thereof.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, this is intended as exemplary and many changes in construction, arrangement, proportion of parts, and use of equivalents may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sinker package consisting of a body of thin sheet metal, dense, non-elastic, pliable metal shaped to present a multiplicity of rectilinear extremely thin ribbon-like members each joined on at least one end to the next adjacent member and all constituting a single body, the junctions of the respective members being weakened to permit manual separations of the members each member being offset from the two next adjacent, and the metal at the junctions being set to retain the members in offset relation.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a sinker package consisting of a sheet of thin, pliable, non-elastic metal having a multiplicity of parallel slits therein stopping at lines Within the sheet to form sinker strips, the ends of said strips at one side of the article being free, junctions being formed between the mutually adjacent strips adjacent but spaced from their free ends, alternate strips being pressed from the plane of the others throughout the length of the slitted parts, including the extremities of the strips.

3. As an improved article of manufacture a sinker package consisting of a sheet of thin, pliable, non-elastic metal having a multiplicity of parallel slits therein stopping short at at least one transverse line within the sheet to form sinker strips with free extremities, at least two longitudinally spaced integral junctions being formed between the mutually adjacent members, at least one of which is spaced inwardly of said free ends.

4. As an improved article of manufacture a sinker package consisting of a sheet of thin, pliable, non-elastic metal having a multiplicity of parallel uniformly spaced. non-continuous slits therein interrupted intermediately of the length of the strips, the material at the interruptions constituting an integral junction between mutually adjacent strips and being spaced inwardly of the ends of the strips.

5. As an improved article of manufacture, a sinker package consisting of a thin sheet of dense, pliable, non-elastic metal having a multiplicity of parallel slits therethrough stopping short of at least one edge to form intervening fiat sinker strips adapted to be wound digitally around a fish line when detached, parts at least of each strip being pressed and set from the plane of the mutually adjacent strips, whereby alternate strips are individually set out in spaced relation on each side of the sheet conveniently for manual graspmg.

AUSTIN S. CHANDLER. 

